Suicide As a Dramatic Performance

American contributors in sociology, law, psychology, psychiatry, behavioral economics, and thanatology explore the dramatic aspects of suicide, especially the decision-making and ‘scripts’ of suicidal people. Discussion centers around the ‘audience’ of suicide, the suicide note, locations, and methods, and how they are influenced by social and cultural factors as well as the person’s mental state or mental illness. Of special interest is a section on cultural scripts for suicide: Russian roulette and duels, death by seppuku, self-immolation as protest, victim-precipitated homicide, sati, suicide by police, and suicide as liberation of the soul. Annotation c2015 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)